Spain confirms rare Crimean-Congo fever case after tick bite

Spain has reported a confirmed case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Salamanca. The patient, a 68-year-old man, was hospitalised in Madrid after a tick bite. The rare but severe disease has prompted a strong public health response. The Salamanca patient fell ill after being bitten by a tick. He was transferred to a Madrid hospital for treatment. His case marks the latest confirmed instance of the virus in Spain.

In Almería, Rosalía Luque suffered from a prolonged fever with no clear cause. Her symptoms included headaches, an inflamed gallbladder and liver, and fluid retention. Doctors initially struggled to diagnose her condition, as tick bites are not always visible and symptoms can appear later.

After days of testing, a tick-borne infection was suspected. She spent two days in critical care before her condition improved following treatment with multiple antibiotics. Her case was never confirmed as Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever but underscores the challenges in identifying such infections early.

Spain’s Ministry of Health advises removing an attached tick within 24 hours. The recommended method is to use fine tweezers and pull gently and steadily. The confirmed case in Salamanca highlights the seriousness of tick-borne diseases in Spain. Public health measures remain focused on early detection and prevention. Authorities continue to monitor and respond to potential outbreaks.